Chhatra Shakti protests govt's alleged politicisation of teacher recruitment at primary level

Dhaka University unit of Jatiya Chhatra Shakti, the student wing of the NCP, today (25 September) held a "Red Card to BNPization" program, accusing the government of politicizing primary school teacher recruitment and depriving qualified candidates of jobs in the name of police verification.

The human chain program was held at Raju Memorial Sculpture on Dhaka University campus around 7:30pm.

The protesters demanded an end to political discrimination in public recruitment, an impartial investigation into allegations of recruitment irregularities, reinstatement of candidates whose appointments were cancelled following verification, and a transparent, merit-based recruitment process.

Addressing the program, Kurratul Ain Kaniz, vice-president of the Shamsun Nahar Hall Students' Union, said meritorious young jobseekers had sacrificed their lives during the 2024 mass uprising, but were now being subjected to harassment and facing obstacles in the recruitment process.

"After being elected, the BNP government is now harassing those meritorious jobseekers and obstructing their recruitment process. We strongly condemn such activities," she said.

She said Chhatra Shakti and students and members of the public across the country would stand beside the affected jobseekers.

"We are showing a red card to the BNP government," she said.

She also demanded the immediate reinstatement of candidates whose appointments had been cancelled despite being recommended for government jobs.

"If the government betrays the students again, we will once again build a strong movement against the BNP with the participation of students, as we did during July," she said.

Hasib Al Islam, president of the DU unit of Chhatra Shakti, alleged that the BNP government was appointing its party supporters to various positions after assuming power.

"Their only qualification is that they are BNP leaders or activists. No country can run this way," he said.

He also alleged that students and members of the public were being subjected to harassment in the name of police verification and demanded an immediate end to it.

"The politicization of primary teacher recruitment and the exclusion of qualified candidates must be reversed immediately," Hasib said.

He said candidates who had been excluded on political grounds or because of their political ideology should be reinstated, while membership of an organization affiliated with the ruling party should not be used either to deny or grant jobs irrespective of merit.

"If you do not turn back from this path of politicization, we know how to remove you from power," he said.

Hasib urged the government to follow what he described as the spirit of the July mass uprising, building a state based on equality and free from discrimination.

Meanwhile, the Dhaka University unit of Islami Chhatra Shibir also demanded an end to harassment and deprivation of candidates in government recruitment in the name of police verification, as well as merit-based recruitment and an end to political discrimination.

In a statement issued Friday, it demanded an impartial investigation into allegations of political discrimination and recruitment deprivation, fair remedies for victims and a transparent, merit-based recruitment system.

The Dhaka University Central Students' Union (DUCSU) also demanded prompt measures for candidates who have not received appointment letters for primary school teaching posts and an end to harassment in the name of verification.